Anticipating Sunday

Pastors Craig Schaub and Joe Blotz send out a weekly e-newsletter to their congregation at Plymouth UCC, Syracuse. In it they provide news about upcoming events, particularly what will be happening on Sunday.

This is important enough. I love receiving it. What I really love about this e-newsletter is the headline for the section on worship: "Anticipating Sunday." What an inspiration! What a change in the way in which we usually think about Sunday morning in church!

More than a bland listing of the scriptural texts or the schedule of the different events, this newsletter invites us to anticipate. No mere markings on our calendars! No personal notations to remember the duties we've signed up for on that day! No twiddling of the thumbs as the seconds click away on the clock! No staring blankly out the window because we're bored from watching midday television! No workday minds wondering about a better life beyond the paycheck! No!

Anticipate Sunday! Prepare to hear the Word of God, to experience it, to let it change us! Pray for the eyes to see God's salvation in the face of the person sitting next to us in the pew; and for the heart to warm to the needs of the person huddled in the shadow of the church building; and for the hands to grasp hold of the gospel of peace for the ones that need jobs and homes, food and water, and a respite from violence and poverty. Anticipate Sunday! Become Excited! Be hopeful! Be strong in faith!

David Ashby, Interim Pastor at Corning UCC, wrote of a conversation with some colleagues in the aftermath of the Presidential Inauguration for the church newsletter. In response to another minister's statement that he was thinking of preaching on the theme, "Change We Can Believe In," David quipped that maybe he would preach on the theme, "Belief We Can Change Into".

It's all about change, isn't it! We know that we need to do things differently in government, in international relations, in our economy, in the cars that we buy, in our revamped household budgets, and in our churches.

I saw an interview on television some weeks ago about the economic recession and the effects that it has been having on every aspect of our lives. The one being interviewed was talking about all of the hardships, the loss of jobs and homes and investments, and all the sacrifices that will be necessary. On the upside he noted that in the Great Depression people pulled together. They looked out for one another. Families and neighborhoods and churches became important. They recognized the value of participating in more home grown entertainments.

Yes, the recession is on our minds. There is much anxiety and fear. We have to adapt, do things differently in order to make ends meet, and plan ahead for a different way of living in a new world.

These realities are being addressed in our pulpits and in church newsletters. The newsletters I receive discuss the ways in which our faith speaks to the present crisis. They describe the ways in which the community of faith and the wider community can pull together for fellowship and mutual support. They promote ways in which the church is seeking to meet the basic needs of people in the community that are hurting.

The Preble Congregational Church has started a new food ministry for the community. Many churches have such ministries. But Preble at this time, in the first few months of the pastorate of Barbara Blom, is starting something new to reach out to the community. God bless them!

Friedens UCC, Syracuse emphasizes the value of fellowship and service. They have a Shawl Ministry that provides items to warm the shoulders and companionship to warm the spirits of senior citizens. They have an active Senior Ladies Group, and conduct Bible Studies for teens as well as adults. The church also provides a space for an African American and a Burmese congregation. The three congregations have planned mutual social events. Coming together for a common meal is a great translator for people of different ethnicities and languages.

The First Congregational Church, Greene has an active presence in the community and beyond. They have a Food Pantry, a Clothing Bank, and run an Open Kitchen meal program. They also host the monthly meeting of the local WIC chapter and put together Families in Need Kits for people in the community.

Emmanuel Congregational Church, Watertown has an active Global Mission Team. The Team is planning a Disaster Relief Mission trip to Florida over the mid-winter school vacation in February. Co-Pastor Ron Farr is presently leading another Workplace Christianity Breakfast group. Ron is the founder and leader of the Laity Empowerment Project (http://laityempowerment.com/) has developed a number of courses including "Unwrapping our Gifts", "Hearing God's Call", "Unleashing our Weekday Ministries", and "Newcomers Class" to name a few.

Emmanuel is trying to cut maintenance costs by utilizing the tried and true method of relying upon the congregation for some practical help. In January they asked each member to bring a bag of calcium chloride pellets to help keep the side walks safe and free of ice.

Many churches look for ways to save money while keeping up to date with today's technology. Along with Plymouth Church, I receive a weekly e-newsletter from The Park Church, Elmira; Journey UCC, Slingerlands; Blooming Grove and from First Congregational, Albany. Trinity UCC, Rome; Corning, Madrid, Massena and Deansboro send their monthly newsletters by email.

Plainville Christian Church and UCC Bayberry host weekly luncheons for Senior Citizens. Plainville and Rome Trinity also host regular movie nights for the community.

Anticipation! Chris Xenakis, in his first newsletter article as pastor of the Groton Community Church, wrote about the church's calling to minister to the community beyond the church. In so doing he referred to the story of Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dream of the seven skinny cows devouring the seven fat cows. Joseph saw that this dream foretold the coming of seven prosperous years followed by seven lean years. When Pharaoh asked Joseph how he would act upon this dream, Joseph said that Pharaoh should store up all the grain he could for the seven prosperous years in order to have enough to feed his people during the seven lean years. Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of the effort and the rest, as they say, is Biblical history.

The point of this is that life is like this. There are both lean and prosperous times. We need to anticipate this and make the most of every day that is given to us. And, if we have not prepared for the lean times, we can at least provide for each other by sharing what we have. In the end through our faith in God we trust that this is enough!

Ginny Anderson, pastor of Friedens UCC, Syracuse, declared her faith in God the great artist. She said that she never appreciated the colder months until she saw a book of paintings of trees in winter. She became impressed with how beautiful were the artist's depictions of these majestic parts of God's creation, God's masterwork. She declared that she would never again think of winter as ugly, and that she would give praise to the God who is and who has made everything to be good and beautiful and true.

I pray for the grace to anticipate Sunday and hope for the change to come for justice and peace!

Blessings,

Rick Cowles